SNIPE-SHOOTING. 109 
as he came in, addressing the Baltimorean, who was 
booted to the hip, ready for action. . 
“The bottom of the night, rather ;” replied Charley 
laughing. “It’s an awful state of society, when a fel- 
low’s dragged out of bed by an insane Yorkshireman, 
two hours before day-break, and made to get into his 
boots, whether or no.” 
“Tt must have been something of a job to get into 
yours, I should think ; but Pll tell you what, if'we get 
the birds into a bit of tussocky bog, where we shall find 
them, if we find them anywhere to-day, you'll get out of 
them, I fancy, a plaguy deal quicker than you got in; 
for they'll stick fast as sure as mud’s mud—and the mud 
there, or clay, rather, is better than any boot-jack.” 
“The Lord’s will be done—” answered the other; 
“at all events, I shall keep dry ten minutes longer than 
you.” 
“True, O king! Now, Timothy, take half that loaf of 
rye bread, cut it into chunks, and give the dogs their 
breakfast.” 
“Which dogs are you going to take to-day, Harry ?” 
“¢ Dinks’ and ‘ Bob’—the orange and white, and the 
black and white Russian.” 
“Dinks is the greatest beauty and Bob the greatest 
brute I ever set my eyes upon.” 
“Tf you don’t change your tune before night, you may 
eat me. Any one can see that Dinksis by far the hand- 
